Joe Biden defended what many critics claim is a blight on his record of working with the black community.
“Other things increased mass incarceration,” the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential candidate told The Breakfast Club in a pre-taped interview aired Friday.
Biden told host Charlamagne Tha God, Hillary Clinton was “wrong” to apologize for her and husband former President Bill Clinton’s role in pushing for the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, better known as the “crime bill.”
Critics often blame the legislation for exacerbating a trend toward mass incarceration through provisions, such as encouraging states to adopt stricter sentencing laws in exchange for additional federal funding.
“She was wrong. What happened was — that wasn’t the crime bill, it was the drug legislation. It was their institution of mandatory minimums, which I opposed,” Biden said.
The two-term vice president and Delaware’s 36-year senator admitted to knowing “a lot of weed smokers” when asked why he favors marijuana decriminalization over legalization, calling for more long-term studies. He also claimed those in the jail system shared several traits, including being a victim of abuse or having a mother who was not being able to read and lacked job skills,
In the wide-ranging interview, his first with the radio show that became a “must-stop” media appearance during the primary because of its reach with black Democrats, Biden was interrupted twice by an aide, telling Charlamagne Tha God his time was up.
While addressing Republican attacks about his mental acuity, Biden was also candid about Charlamagne Tha God’s criticisms of him throughout the nominating process.
“I know you have. You don’t know me,” Biden said. “Remember when they said Joe Biden couldn’t win? I kicked ass — excuse me, I won the primary.”
Charlamagne Tha God replied, “No, I need you to say that!”
A clearly fired up Biden left the conversation on an awkward note.
“If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” he said.
Charlamagne Tha God shot back, “It don’t have nothing to do with Trump, it has to do with the fact — I want something for my community.”
